New Haven Register, Conn., Dave Solomon column.(Column)

Byline: Dave Solomon

Nov. 8--NEW HAVEN -- He wore the world's most hideous tie around his neck and youthful exuberance on his sleeve.

Here is the theoretical:

Assuming Yale beats Princeton this week at Yale Bowl to raise its Ivy League record to 6-0, would he, Bassermann, like to see Harvard (currently 4-1) win at Penn Saturday so Yale can personally knock Harvard out of a share of the title the following week in The Game in Boston.

The problem with answering the question honestly is that athletes are aggressively encouraged to say nothing of substance, lest they provide bulletin board material for the opponent. It's double secret probation when you comment on an opponent that's not directly in front of you.

But I figure that if the boys of Harvard need Steve Bassermann to get them pumped up against Yale -- particularly in a game with title ramifications -- then they're ... what did Ahhhnold Schwarzenegger call that genre?

Girly men, I believe it was.